Gilroy in Santa Clara County, California — The American West (Pacific Coastal)

Rancho San Ysidro / San Ysidro School

Rancho San Ysidro Marker image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Syd Whittle, April 24, 2009

1. Rancho San Ysidro Marker

Side 1 of the monument base.

Inscription.

Rancho San Ysidro, also, San Ysidro School. . , This base is a two-sided monument commemorating both Rancho San Ysidro (side 1) and San Ysidro School (side 2), Rancho San Ysidro. In the early 1800's Rancho San Ysidro was granted to Ygnacio Ortega. After his death the lands were divided among his three children, Quintin, Maria Isabel and Maria Clara, who married John Gilroy at Mission San Juan Bautista in 1821. A short distance west of the ancient sycamore, at the intersection of Pacheco Pass and Frazier Lake Road, stood the adobes of the Ortega and Gilroy families. Ortega's seaman son-in-law was born in Scotland about 1794 as John Cameron, arrived in Monterey in 1814, borrowed his mother's maiden name, and was later baptized as "Juan Bautista Gilroy. "He is considered the first English-speaking resident of California., With brothers-in-law Quintin Ortega and Julian Cantua, Gilroy made soap near San Felipe Lake, which he traded along with onions and flour from his gristmill to Thomas Larkin of Monterey. Settlers were drawn to Rancho San Ysidro because of the hospitality of the Ortega and Gilroy families. Captain John C. Fremont and his troops passed by here on their way south in November 1846. They appropriated most of Gilroy's horses and mules to support the American acquisition of California. San Ysidro grew into a small community with a school (later located on this site), store, butcher and blacksmith shops, and a post office. , John Gilroy lived here under the flags of Spain, Mexico, and the United States. He served as an auxiliary alcalde and later as justice of the peace. When the town was incorporated in 1868, citizens honored Gilroy by naming their town after him. The growth of the community of San Ysidro shifted two miles west. the following year with the completion of the railroad and the demise of John Gilroy. Today, descendents of John Gilroy continue his legacy by residing in "Old Gilroy," also known as San Ysidro., Dedicated October 23, 2004 by the The Gilroy Historical Society and Anchorpoint Christian School. Erected by Mountain Charlie Chapter 1850 E Clampus Vitus and Observatory Parlor 177 Native Sons of The Golden West. San Ysidro School. San Ysidro School is the oldest school in continuous operation on the same site in Southern Santa Clara County. Titled after a Spanish land grant acquired by Ygnacio Ortega from Mexico in 1803, Rancho San Ysidro was named after Saint Isadore, “The Plowman”. Local families were the first to take responsibility for educating their children. Established in 1859, a redwood structure was built there to accommodate students from the growing community of Gilroy. The San Ysidro School remained as an independent school district for over 100 years, and was combined with the Gilroy Unified School District in July of 1966. San Ysidro School, together with the giant sycamore tree that shades the front playground, has survived as a cornerstone of education for the children of Gilroy’s past, present, and future. Dedicated June 11, 1994 Gilroy Unified School District Mountain Charlie Chapter No. 1850 E Clampus Vitus "Right Wrongs Nobody" .

This base is a two-sided monument commemorating both Rancho San Ysidro (side 1) and San Ysidro School (side 2)

Rancho San Ysidro In the early 1800's Rancho San Ysidro was granted to Ygnacio Ortega. After his death the lands were divided among his three children, Quintin, Maria Isabel and Maria Clara, who married John Gilroy at Mission San Juan Bautista in 1821. A short distance west of the ancient sycamore, at the intersection of Pacheco Pass and Frazier Lake Road, stood the adobes of the Ortega and Gilroy families. Ortega's seaman son-in-law was born in Scotland about 1794 as John Cameron, arrived in Monterey in 1814, borrowed his mother's maiden name, and was later baptized as "Juan Bautista Gilroy. "He is considered the first English-speaking resident of California.

With brothers-in-law Quintin Ortega and Julian Cantua, Gilroy made soap near San Felipe Lake, which he traded along with onions and flour from his gristmill to Thomas Larkin of Monterey. Settlers were drawn to Rancho San Ysidro because of the hospitality of the Ortega and Gilroy families. Captain John C. Fremont and his troops passed by here on their way south in November 1846. They appropriated most of Gilroy's horses and mules to support the American acquisition of California. San

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Ysidro grew into a small community with a school (later located on this site), store, butcher and blacksmith shops, and a post office.

John Gilroy lived here under the flags of Spain, Mexico, and the United States. He served as an auxiliary alcalde and later as justice of the peace. When the town was incorporated in 1868, citizens honored Gilroy by naming their town after him. The growth of the community of San Ysidro shifted two miles west. the following year with the completion of the railroad and the demise of John Gilroy. Today, descendents of John Gilroy continue his legacy by residing in "Old Gilroy," also known as San Ysidro.

Dedicated October 23, 2004 by the The Gilroy Historical Society & Anchorpoint Christian School.
Erected by Mountain Charlie Chapter 1850 E Clampus Vitus & Observatory Parlor 177 Native Sons of The Golden West
San Ysidro School San Ysidro School is the oldest school in continuous operation on the same site in Southern Santa Clara County. Titled after a Spanish land grant acquired by Ygnacio Ortega from Mexico in 1803, Rancho San Ysidro was named after Saint Isadore, “The Plowman”. Local families were the first to take responsibility for educating their children. Established in 1859, a redwood structure was built there to accommodate students from the growing community

Rancho San Ysidro image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Syd Whittle, April 24, 2009

2. Rancho San Ysidro

of Gilroy.
The San Ysidro School remained as an independent school district for over 100 years, and was combined with the Gilroy Unified School District in July of 1966. San Ysidro School, together with the giant sycamore tree that shades the front playground, has survived as a cornerstone of education for the children of Gilroy’s past, present, and future. Dedicated June 11, 1994
Gilroy Unified School District
Mountain Charlie Chapter No. 1850
E Clampus Vitus
"Right Wrongs Nobody"

Erected 2004 by Mountain Charlie Chapter 1850 E Clampus Vitus, Observatory Parlor 177 Native Sons of The Golden West & Gilroy Unified School District.

Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Education • Notable Places • Settlements & Settlers. In addition, it is included in the Daughters of the American Revolution, the E Clampus Vitus, and the Native Sons/Daughters of the Golden West series lists. A significant historical date for this entry is June 11, 1775.

Location. 37° 0.032′ N, 121° 31.354′ W. Marker is in Gilroy, California, in Santa Clara County. Marker is on Pacheco Pass Highway (State Highway 152) 1.8 miles east of State Highway 101, on the right when traveling east. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 2220 Pacheco Pass Highway, Gilroy CA 95020, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Other nearby markers.

San Ysidro School Marker image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Syd Whittle, April 24, 2009

3. San Ysidro School Marker

Side 2 of the monument base. The giant sycamore tree mentioned in marker text can be seen in Photo #2 in background. (Center of Photo)

At least 8 other markers are within 3 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies. Butterfield Overland Stage (approx. 2½ miles away); Old City Hall (approx. 2.6 miles away); “Alcalde” (approx. 2.6 miles away); Chesbro Building (approx. 2.6 miles away); City of Gilroy (approx. 2.6 miles away); In Memoriam (approx. 2.6 miles away); The Stinking Rose (approx. 2.6 miles away); a different marker also named In Memoriam (approx. 2.6 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Gilroy.

Also see . . .
1. Clampers In the News. A reprint of an article written by Lori Stuenkel, Gilroy Dispatch:
The school property sold and the new owners worked very closely with the Mountain Charlie Chapter of the EVC and several other organizations to install these markers on the school site. (Submitted on April 30, 2009, by Syd Whittle of Mesa, Arizona.)

2. “Plat of Rancho San Ysidro Confirmed to John Gilroy". University of California documents detailing information of the confirmation of the land grant to John Gilroy. (Submitted on April 30, 2009, by Syd Whittle of Mesa, Arizona.)

3. “Plat of Rancho San Ysidro Confirmed to Quintin Ortega". University of California documents detailing information of the confirmation of the land grant to Quintin Ortega. (Submitted on April 30, 2009, by Syd Whittle of Mesa, Arizona.)

Additional commentary.

Photographed By Syd Whittle, April 24, 2009

4. San Ysidro School Marker

1. The Mountain Charlie Chapter No. 1850 thank the people who made this possible:
In Tribute:
These monuments were erected as a tribute to today's community of Gilroy and to the earlier Rancho San Ysidro and today's decendants of the Ortega family, to the later community of San Ysidro, and today's
descendants of the John Gilroy family, to the Clan Cameron, and lastly to all the early seaman who left their ships to settle and raise families in Alta California.
Special thanks to all those whose support, hard work, and dedication helped make this plaque possible, including:
Bill Clark, Historian, ECV1850.
Noble Grand Humbug Matt Keahey and all the Graybeards of ECV1850.
Connie Rogers, Pres. Gilroy Historical Society.
James Rogers, Board Member, Gilroy Unified School District.
Doug Rose, Pres. NSGW, Observatory Parlor No.177.
Rev. Steven White, Trustee, Anchorpoint Christian School.
Source: http://www.mountaincharlie1850.org/pl_san_ysidro_rancho.html

— Submitted April 30, 2009, by Syd Whittle of Mesa, Arizona.

Community Donors image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Syd Whittle, April 24, 2009

5. Community Donors

Donor Plaque mounted on north side of monument base:
California Pioneers of Santa Clara County
Daughters of the American Revolution
Gablin Chapter DAR, Gilroy
Keith Lodge No.187 E. & A. M., Gilroy

Credits. This page was last revised on May 10, 2023. It was originally submitted on April 30, 2009, by Syd Whittle of Mesa, Arizona. This page has been viewed 2,428 times since then and 24 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5. submitted on April 30, 2009, by Syd Whittle of Mesa, Arizona.